Game



Nov. 12, 1935.

A.. H. BEHRMAN ET AL GAME Filed Jan. 12, 1953 4 Sheets-Sheet l M lllllllllflllllllllllllllllllllllllllll Nov. 12, 1935. A, H. BEHRMAN ET AL 2,020,929

GAME

4 Filed Jan. 12, 1953 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Nov. 12, 19.35. A. H. BEHRMAN ET AL GAME Filed Jan. 12, 1953 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Nov. 12, 1935 UNITED STATES GAME Alfred H. Behrman, Baraboo,

Avers, Portage, Wis,

Sinclair, Juneau Count and Franklin H. assignors to George R.

, Wis.

Application .ianuary 12, 1933, Serial No. 651,312

16 Claims.

This invention appertains to games, and game apparatus, and more particularly to games of the type in which a predetermined number of balls or like projectiles are released upon the depositing of a suitable coin, so that the same can be shot one at a time by a player on to a playing board having counting pockets, or the like.

One of the primary objects of our invention is to provide a game of the above character, which will provide a max mum amount of amusement for the players, and hold their attention during the playing of the entire game, novel means being provided wherein the players are permitted to Withdraw certain selected balls from the playing board, after the initial projecting thereof, so that these balls can be replayed in an effort to increase the score.

Another salient object of our invention is to provide a game which can be played along the lines of a conventional card game, the players initially projecting five balls, one at a time, on to the playing board having pockets or traps designated by cards of a deck of playing cards, the points of rest of the balls constituting the players hand, means being provided wherein the player can draw to his hand in an efiort to in-- crease the value thereof, by selectively withdrawing the desired balls from the pockets or traps to permit replaying thereof.

A further important object of our invention is to provide a game apparatus embodying a playing board, with means for projecting balls or the like over the playing board with means including a gate for controlling the passage of the balls to the projecting device, said gate being so arranged as to allow the balls to pass therethrough twice before the closing and locking thereof, whereby the players are permitted to initially project the balls over the board, and then replay the desired balls in an efiort to increase their score.

A further important object of our invention is to provide a coin-controlled game apparatus, in which the balls are released upon the depositing of a suitable coin, the releasing means being automatically re-locked after the balls have passed through said means a predetermined number of times.

A further object of our invention is to provide novel means wherein a player can release any desired ball from a counting pocket or trap, means being also provided for simultaneously releasing all of the balls from the pockets or traps upon the depositing of the appropriate coin.

A further important object of our invention is the provision of a novel ball carrier movable from the ball-releasing means to the ball-projecting means, the ball-releasing means being initially actuated by theplayer upon the operation of the ball-selecting means from the counting pockets or traps, and finally actuated by the 5 ball carrier upon the second operation of said carrier for automatically re-locking the ballreleasing means. 7

A further object of our invention is the provision of means for simultaneously releasing the 10 balls from the playing board and for unlocking the ball-releasing means upon the depositing of the appropriate coin, so that the game will be ready for instant playing after the depositing of the said coin. 15

A still further object of our invention is to provide an improved game of the above character, which will be easy to operate, and which can be placed upon the market at a reasonable cost.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in the novel construction, arrangement, and formation of parts, as will be hereinafter more specifically described, claimed andillustrated in the accom in which drawings:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of our improved game, with parts thereof broken away and in section to illustrate structural details.

Figure 2is an enlarged detail section taken on i the line 2-2 of Figure 1, looking in the direction 30 of the arrows, illustrating the means for actuating the initial gate-releasing means for the balls from the ball selector.

Figure 3 is a top plan View of the detent for the gate, which is actuated from the ball selector.

Figure 4 is a transversesection through the game, taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 1, looking in the direction of the arrows, and illustrating the means employed for selectively releasing the balls from the counting traps or pockets.

Figure 5 is a detailed fragmentary section taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 1, looking in the direction of the arrows, illustrating the means for simultaneously operating the ball-controlling gate and the ball-releasing means of the playing board from the coin-controlled mechanism.

Figure 6 is a transverse section through the game taken on the line B-6 of Figure 1, looking in the direction of the arrows, illustrating a part of the gate-controlling mechanism, the gate being shown in its raised position and held against movement by both of the locking mechanisms.

Figure '7 is a detail section taken in front of v Figure 6, illustrating the ball carrier, the carrier 65 panying drawings,

being shown in full lines in its raisedposition, and in dotted lines in its lowered ball-receiving position. V

Figure 8 is a view similar to Figure '7, with the ball carrier and projector removed to more clearly illustrate the mechanism employed for holding the ball-controlling gate in its raised position, the gate being shown engaged by both of the holding mechanisms.

Figure 9 is an enlarged detailed section taken on the line 39 of Figure 1, looking in the direction of the arrows, illustrating the construction of the playing board and a part of the ballselecting mechanism.

Figure 10 is a detailed horizontal section taken on the line It-lfl of Figure 4, looking in the direction of the arrows, illustrating a part of the ball-selecting mechanism.

Figure 11 is a transverse section through the ball run-way, looking "toward the gate and the gate-holding mechanism.

Figure 12 is a detail section taken on the line |2-|2 of Figure 1, looking in the direction of the arrows, illustrating a part of the gate holding means.

Figure 13 is a view similar to Figure 8, showing the primary gate-holding means moved to its inoperative position.

Figure 14 is a view similar to Figure 13, showing both the primary and secondary gate-holding means moved to their'rele'ased position, with the gate, in its closed position.

Referring to the drawings in detail, wherein similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, the letter A generally indicates our improved game, which comprises a casing l5 which can be built in any preferred manner and ornamented in any desired way to enhance the appearance thereof. As shown, the casing l5 embodies front, rear, andside walls l5, |'|,,and l8. These walls can'be braced in any desired way, and, as shown, a diagonal strut I9 is provided, which we extend from one corner of the casing to the other. The top of the casing is closed by a frame 20, which carries a glass panel 2|, whereby the play- 'ing board 22, located within the casing, can. be

readily seen by the players. 7 t

The playing board 22 is of a disc shape and is provided witha plurality of radially extending pins 24, which define pockets 25 in conjunction with a supporting table 26. Surrounding the playing board 22. is an annular race-way 21, and this race-way 21 includes a bottom wall 28 and an upstanding guard rail or wall 29. .The

,pins 24 project toward the bottom wall 28 of the race-way and terminate short thereof, and the balls are adapted to be projected over the race-way toward the pockets .25;

By referring to Figure 4 of the drawings, it will be noted that the bottom wall 28 is inclined downwardly toward thev pins 24 and the table 26, so that the balls will drop by gravity into the pockets. The pockets 25 can be indicated by any preferred counting means, but, in accordance with our invention, the counting means are indicated by playing cards 3|). An entire pack of cards, including the joker, is preferably uti- 'lized, and thus there is a total of fifty-three pockets.

In order to enhance the appearance of the game, the playing board 22, the race-way 21,. and the table 26 can be covered with felt, or the like. As clearly shown in the drawings, certain of the pins 24 are extended and are secured to the bottom wall 28 of the race-way 21, the raceway forming a support for the playing board. The race-Way in turn is rigidly held in place by supporting brackets 3|, which are secured to.

the side walls of the casing or housing l5.

The table 26 is utilized for supporting the balls after the same have beenprojected on to the race-way 21, and we provide novel means for actuating this table so that the balls can be re leased and reconveyed to the projecting mechanism. We also construct the table in such a manner that the balls can be selectively released therefrom to permit re-playing of the balls during the playing of one game, as will be hereinafter more fully described. As shown, the table 26 comprises a hub 32, spokes 33, and a connecting rim 34. The periphery of the rim is provided with radially projecting pins 35, for a purpose which will also be hereinafter more fully set forth. One of the spokes 33 is provided with a slot 36. which slidably receives the gate 31', which forms a part of the selective ballreleasing means. Thisgate extends to the periphery of the rim, and, when the same is in its closed position, constitutes a part of the rim. Any desired type of means can be provided for slidably supporting the gate, such as brackets 35-. A leaf spring 39 is employed for normally holding the gate in its closed position with the edge thereof in alinenient with the periphery of the rim. r

Secured to the axial center of the playing hoard 22 isa hollow supporting post 48, and

rotatably mounted within the postis a hollow shaft HQ This shaft 4| is provided with a head secured thereto a link 48, which in turn-is pivotally connected to the inner end of the gate 3]. The plunger rod d3 extends above the hollow post 46], and has secured thereto a thumb-piece From the construction so far, it can be seen that upon depression of the plunger rodthe bell crank 45 will be rocked, moving the gate inwardly against the tension of its spring 38. This will allow the releasing of a ball disposed upon the gate. Secured to the hollow shaft 4| an operating handle 50, and by turning the handle the table can be rotated so as-to d spose the gate under any desired pocket. whereby the desired or selected ball can be released. r

In order to indicate the position of the gate,

Slidably mounted within the a pointer 5| is provided. This pointer 5! can be of an arrow shape, and the head of the pointer extends in alinement with the gate. inne end of the pointer is secured to a sleeve 52, which in turn is secured to the handle The sleeve 52 is spaced from the shaft 4! and surrounds the hollow standard 49.

The transparent panel 2| is provided with an enlarged opening 53, through which extends the hollow standard Ail and a sleeve An enlarged pad 54 surrounds the sleeve and bears against the panel 2|. If desired, this pad can be secured by a suitable cement to the panel, and the; same 40 bell acts as a guard for the panel during the rotation of the sleeve.

The sleeve 52 and the hollow shaft 4| are mounted for sliding movement on the hollow standard, as well as for rotary movement, and in order to hold the table normally in a raised position, we provide a substantially U-shaped yoke 55. This yoke is secured to the lower face of the table 26 adjacent to its axial center, and

the extreme lower end of the yoke normally rests upon a leaf spring 56. This leaf spring 56 is secured at one end to the baseboard or bottom wall 51 of the casing. The tension of the leaf spring 55 is such that the weight of the table will overcome the spring, and we provide releasable means for engaging the spring so that the table can be raised and lowered, as will now be pointed out.

Rockably mounted below the table is a lever 58, and this lever is supported for swinging movement by a pivot pin 59 connected with the diagonal strut IS. The inner end of the lever is provided with a Wedge-shaped shoe 60, and by swinging the lever the shoe can be moved into and out of engagement with the spring. By referring to Figure 4 of the drawings, it can be seen that when the shoe is under the spring 56, the spring is moved upwardly to cause the raising of the table. When the shoe is moved away from the spring 56, the table will lower under the action of gravity and allow the balls to drop from the pockets.

The outer end of the lever 58 is provided with an angle arm 6!, which extends to one side of the race-way 21. Secured to the arm 6| is an upstanding post 62, which extends through a slot 63 formed in the baseboard or bottom wall 51. The baseboard 5? is provided at its central portion with an opening 64, through which the yoke 55 extends so as to permit engagement thereof with the shoe 6!]. A guard rail 65 surrounds the opening so as to prevent the falling of the balls through the opening. By moving the post 62, the lever 58 can be readily swung on its pivot 59 for operating the shoe 60.

Located on the opposite side of the casing l5 from the lever 58 is the ball-projecting device 63. This ball-projecting device 66 may comprise a stationary tube 6'! which is led through an opening 58 formed in the front wall 66 of the casing. The inner end of the tube 66 communicates with a substantially tangentially disposed inlet mouth 69, which in turn communicates with the race-way 21.

Slidably mounted Within the tube 66 is a springpressed plunger 19, and this plunger is provided with a plunger rod II, which is led exteriorly of the tubing 61 and the front wall of the casing. A finger-piece i2 is connected with theplunger rod, whereby the plunger can be drawn rearwardly against the tension of its spring to permit shooting of a ball over the race-way. An inlet opening T3 is formed in the tube 67 at a point intermediate its ends, so that the balls can be fed into the said tube.

In conjunction with the ball-projecting device, We utilize a novel ball-carrier 1.4. This ballcarrier 14 consists of a tubular receptacle having one end thereof closed and its other end open to permit the rolling of the balls into the same and the movement of the balls out of the same into the projector tube. Secured to the ball-carrier i4 is a rod 15. The end of the rod 75, remote from the ball carrier I4, is rigidly secured to a hub plate 16, and this hub plate is rotatably mounted on a supporting stud 17. A handle T8 s connected with the rod intermediate its ends, and this handle extends through an arcuate slot 19 formed in the front wall lb of the casing l5. The outer end of the handle can have a suitable finger-piece connected therewith. The handle 12 for the ball-projector and the handle 80 of the ball-carrier are located in close proximity to one another, so that the player of the machine can conveniently actuate the same. A crank arm 8| is also connected with the rod 75, and a contractile coil spring .82 is secured to the crank arm and to the casing, whereby to normally hold the rod H and the ballcarrier 14 m an elevated position. It is to be noted that when the ball-carrier 14 is in its raised position, the open end thereof is lowermost and terminates at the opening 73 of the projector tube. Thus the balls from the carrier normally tend 'to gravitate into the said projector tube.

When the plunger is in its normal position, the spring prevents the flow of balls into the tube,

but when the plunger is pulled inwardly past the 7 opening a ball is permitted to roll into the tube. When the ball carrier 14 is in its lowermost position, the same communicates with an inclined runway 83, and any balls on the run-way will be permitted to roll into the said ball-carrier.

Novel means is provided for preventing the balls from normally leaving the run-way, and this means forms an important part of the invention.

As clearly shown in Figure 6 of the drawings, the baseboard or bottom wall 51 is inclined toward the front of the machine so that the balls will tend to roll into the run-way as the same drop from the table 26. The means for controlling the passage of the balls from the run-way to the ball-carrier operates in conjunction with a coincontrolled mechanism 84, and this coin-controlled mechanism also actuates the post 62 for rocking the lever 58. The means for controlling the passage of the balls from the run-way 83 includes a gate 85. This gate is formedon or secured to a swinging lever 85, which extends parallel with the front wall It of the casing. The opposite end of the lever 86 is rigidly secured to a shaft 81, which extends through one wall of the run-way 83. Secured to the same shaft Bl is an operating arm 88, and this operating arm extends toward the coin-controlled mechanism 84 and terminates adjacent to the post 62.

To limit the downward swinging movement of the gate 85 a hook-shaped finger 89 is formed on the lever 86, and this finger overlies the mentioned side wall of the run-way. Secured to the lever 86 intermediate the gate 85 and the finger 89 is a rigid keeper-plate 90. Formed on the upper end of the keeper-plate 9B is a keeper-hook 9| and a laterally extending cam finger 92. A hook-shaped latch arm 93 is rigidly connected with a swinging latch lever 94. This latch lever is rockably mounted on a pivot pin 95 rigidly secured to one wall of the casing. A contractile coil spring 96 is employed for normally moving the hook-shaped latch arm 93 toward and into engagement with the keeper-hook 9|. Pivotally mounted upon the latch lever 94 is a swinging dog 91, which is normally urged toward one side of the latch lever 94 by a leaf spring 98. pin 99 is arranged in the path of the dog so as to limit the swinging movement thereof in one direction. It is to be noted that the lower end of the dog is disposed at an angle to the horizontal for a purpose which will be later set forth.

A stop to one of the side walls of the casing, and the Operating in conjunction with the latch-plate 90 is another latch lever I00. The latch lever I constitutes. the primary or initial locking means for the latch-plate 90 and gate 85, while the'latch lever 94 and latch hook 93 constitute the secondary locking means for the gate.

Referring more particularly to Figures 2 and 3 of the drawings, it will be seen that the latch lever I00 is of a substantially bell crank shape, and has formed thereon intermediate its ends a hub sleeve I0 I, which is rockably mounted upon a supporting pin I02 secured to the lower face of the race-way 21. The inner end of the latch lever constitutes a trip arm, as indicated by the reference character I03. The opposite end of the latch arm is provided with a rigid latch pin I04, which is adapted to be moved under the laterally extending keeper finger 92 of the keeper-plate 90. g

The upper face of thelatch lever I00 has connected therewith an eye I05, to which is secured one end of a pull cord I06. This pull cord I05" extends across the front of the machine in the rear of the front wall I0, and a suitable guideeye and the like is provided for supporting the cord. The end of the cord remote from the latch lever I 00 is secured to the post 62, and consequently upon initial movement of the post a pull will be exerted on the cord for swinging the latch lever I00. Any pull on the cord tends to move the latch pin I04 under the laterally extending keeper 92, and in order to hold the latch lever I00 against accidental swinging movement a leaf spring I06 is provided.

In order to create a slight pull on the cord I06 at all times, a weight I01 is connected to the cord. This also provides a slight slack in the cord so as to allow for the increased swinging movement of the lever 58 over the swinging movement of the latch I00.

This leaf spring I06 is secured at its outer end same is provided intermediate its ends with an arcuate bight portion I 01. The shank portion of the eye I05 is disposed in the path of the spring I06, and as the shank portion rides into the arcuate'bight portion of the spring, the same is guided thereby under'the said laterally extending keeper arm 92.

The trip arm I03 of the latch lever I00 is disposed in the path of the pins 35 on the table 26 when the latch pin I04 is under the keeper arm 92, and consequently upon any turning movement of the table in either direction, the latch arm I00 will beswung on its pivot against the tension of the spring I00 for moving the latch pin from under the keeper arm 92, for a purpose which will be later set forth.

By referring to Figure '7 of the drawings, it

can be seen that the rod I5 at this point of connection with the ball-carrier I4 is disposed in the path of the swinging dog 91. Upon the downward movement of the rod I5 and ball-carrier, the rod will swing the dog 91 inwardly against the tension of its spring 98, and after the carrier receives the balls from the run-way, and is returned to its normal elevated position, the rod I5 rides on the inclined lower face of the dog 91 and forces the dog and the latch lever 94 to the right (referring to Figures 7, 8, 13, and 14.) This is accomplished, due to the fact that the dog is prevented from swinging movement to the left by the stop pin 99; Swinging movement of the latch lever 94 to the right will move the hookshaped latch arm 93 from out of engagement 'thelatch lug is permitted, due to the resiliency with the hook-shaped keeper 9|. Obviously, when both of the latches 93 and I00 are moved from out of engagement with the keeper-plate, the gate is permitted to lower.

In order to prevent the balls from rolling off 5 I09 is arranged in the path of a ball-carrier I4,

so that upon downward movement of the carrier the arm will be depressed to move the leg I08 below the run-way.

Referring to the coin-controlled mechanism 84,

it is to be noted that the same embodies a sliding plunger plate III] mounted within a guide-way II I. This plunger plate H0 is coupled with a second plunger plate II! when a'coin of the de-- a sired denomination is inserted in the said plunger plate I III. The specific construction of the coincontrolled mechanism forms no part of the present invention, and may be of any desired construction provided that the plate H2 is moved inwardly upon operation of the plate H0. The post '02 is disposed in the path of the plate H2, and thus when the plate is moved inwardly the post will be operated for swinging the lever 58. Connected with the plate H2 is a downwardly inclined arm H3, and the swinging'arm 800i the gate 85 is disposed in'the path of the inclined arm II3. Consequently, when the plate I I2 is moved inwardly, the inclined arm will depress the swinging arm 88, causing the raising of the gate to an elevated position, as shownin Figure 8 of the drawings. a

In operation of our improved game, the coin of the called for denomination is inserted within the coin mechanism 84, and the plate H0 is pushed inwardly. This will move the plunger II2 inwardly and cause the swinging of the lever 58, the rocking of the arm 88, and a pull on the cord I06'.. Swinging movement of the lever 58 will allow the lowering of the table 26 so that any balls resting upon the same willbe permitted to drop upon the baseboard 51. These balls will roll into the run-way 83 and will be stopped by the resilient arm I01. The downward movement of the arm 88 will raise the gate 85 and synchronously with the raising of the'gate the latch pin I04 will be moved under the keeper arm 92 by the pull cable I06. Upward movement of the gate 85 will position the keeper-hook above and in the path of the hook-shaped latch arm 93. Movement of the keeper-hook 9| past of the latch hook and wedge-shape of the keeper hook.

The game is now ready to be played, and the operator pushes down on the handle 80 so as to move the ball-carrier I4 in alinement with the run-way. As the ball-carrier reaches the run way, the resilient arm I0! is flexed, which allows the balls to roll in the carrier. The carrier I4 is now returned to its normal raised position by the operator, or by the spring 82. The balls can be shot one at a time by means of the plunger on to' the race-way 21, and as the balls lose their momentum, the same will drop into one of the pockets 25. After all of the balls have been played, the operator determines the best poker hand that can be made by drawing to the cards indicated by the balls in the pockets. Say a player has made three kings with his first five shots and two off-cards. The player will then release the two balls indicating the olfcards. This is accomplished by grasping the handle 50 and turning the same until the pointer reaches the first ball that is to be released, after which the finger-piece 49 of the plunger rod 43 is pressed downwardly. This will move the gate 3'! of the table 26 inwardly, and the ball will drop on to the base-board and gravitate into the run-way. The second ball is released in the same manner. As soon as the handle 50 is turned, the pins 35, moving with the table, strike the trip arm 13 of the latch lever I00, causing the movement of the pin I04 from under the keeper arm 92. This allows the gate to drop a short distance until the keeper hook 9| engages the latch hook 93. So far it can be seen that the initial or primary latch has been released. The player again moves the carrier 14 downwardly to receive the two balls that have been released, and as the carrier returns to its normal raised position, the latch lever 94 is swung to the right, as heretofore described, moving the latch hook 93 from out of engagement with the keeper hook 9|. As the gate is no longer held in its raised position by the latch pin I04, the gate will immediately drop to its closed position, as shown in Figure 14 of the drawings. The two balls in the carrier can now be projected on to the raceway to see if the hand can be bettered. This constitutes one game, and as the gate is in its lowered position, the game cannot be played again until the plunger I I2 is moved inwardly.

In order to prevent the jamming at the runway, and to insure the entrance of the balls into the run-way, we provide a swinging pusher finger H5 which is disposed adjacent to the entrance of the run-way. This swinging pusher finger I I 5 is rigidly connected to a shaft 1 l 6 rockably mounted on the walls of the run-way. Con- -nected to the hub portion of the pusher finger is a crank arm II! to which is connected a link H8, which is in turn connected to the crank arm Bl of the rod 15 of the ball-carrier 14. Thus it can be seen that upon movement of the ballcarrier swinging movement will be imparted to the pusher finger.

From the foregoing description, it can be seen that we have provided a novel game, which will afford a maximum amount of pleasure and interest to the players thereof.

Changes in details may be made without departing from the spirit of the scope of this invention, but what we claim is:-

1. A game comprising a game board, ball trapping means associated with the game board, means for projecting balls over the board whereby the same can fall by chance into said balltrapp means, means for simultaneously releasing all of the trapped balls, and independent means for selectively releasing undesired trapped balls.

2. A game comprising a casing, an annular race-way disposed in said casing, a disc-shaped game board arranged axially within the raceway, means for supporting the game board, radially projecting pins carried by the game board and extending towfards the race-way defining ball-receiving spaces, a. rotatable table mounted below the game board and projecting under said pins for supporting the balls, means for projecting the balls over the race-way and toward said pins, manual means for rotating the table. a sliding gate carried by the table movable under any adjacent pair of selected pins during rotation of the table, and means for actuating the 5 gate.

3. A game comprising a casing, a game board disposed in the casing, a race-way surrounding the board and inclined toward the board, radially projecting pins carried by the board extending 10 toward the race-way and defining ball-receiving spaces, means for projecting balls over the raceway, a table arranged below the board and projecting under the pins for supporting the balls, means for bodily moving the table in a horizontal plane for simultaneously releasing all of said. balls, and independent means carried by the table for selectively releasing the balls.

4. A game comprising a casing, a game board in said casing, a race-way surrounding and inclining toward the game board, pins carried by the board and projecting toward the race-way defining ball-receiving spaces, a table arranged below the board and projecting pins for supporting balls trapped between the pins, means for projecting the balls over the race-way, a hollow shaft extending through the board rotatabIy supporting the table, a handle on the shaft for turning the table, a radially projecting gate slidably supported by the table and movable under any adjacent pair of selected pins, and means for operating the gate including a plunger rod slidably carried by the hollow shaft and terminating above said shaft.

5. A game comprising a casing, a game board disposed in the casing, a race-way surrounding and inclining toward the board, means for projecting balls over the race-way, a plurality of pins carried by the board projecting toward the race-way defining ball-receiving spaces therebetween, a rotatable table disposed below the board and projecting under the pins for supporting the balls, a hollow shaft rotatably and slidably carried by the board, releasable means for bodily'supporting the table, means for rotating the table, and a. manually releasable gate movable toward the axis of the table and inward of the periphery thereof.

6. A game comprising a casing, a game board supported within the casing, an annular race-way I fining ball-receiving spaces therebetween, a table arranged below the board and projecting under said pins for supporting the balls, a hollow shaft connected with the table rotatably and slidably supported by said board, means disposed exteriorly of the casing for rotating the shaft, a yoke secured to the lower face of the table, an operating lever rockably mounted on the table having a wedge-shaped shoe movable into and out of engagement with the yoke for bringing about the raising and lowering of said'table, a radially movable gate on said table, and manual means for sliding the gate toward the axial center of the table and inward of the periphery of said table.

'7. In a game, a casing, a game board supported within the casing, an annular race-way surrounding and inclining toward the board, a plurality of radially projecting pins carried by the board and extending toward the race-way defining ball-receiving spaces therebetween, a

table disposed under the board and extending under said pins for supporting balls received be tween adjacent pairs of the pins, said table being movable up and. down toward and away from the board, means for projecting balls over the race-way, and means for raising and lowering the table for releasing the balls received between said adjacent pairs of 7 8. In a game, a casing, a game board supported within the casing, an annular race-way surrounding and inclining toward said board but spaced therefrom, means for projecting balls over the race-way, a plurality of radially projecting pins carried by the board and extending toward the race-way defining ball-receiving spaces therebetweerna table movable up and down disposed under the board and extending under said pins for supporting balls received between adjacent pairs of the pins, coin controlled means for raising and lowering the table for'simultaneously releasing all the balls received between adjacent pairs of pins, and manually actuated means associated with the table for selectively releasing the desired balls from between any desired pair of said pins. a r i 9. In a game, a playing surface having balltrapping means associated therewith, means for projecting balls over the playing suriace toward said ball trapping means, means for simultaneously releasing all of the trapped balls, independent means for selectively releasing the desired trapped balls, a run-way for} receiving the released balls, a gate for controlling the, movee ment of the balls from the run-way, a'ball-carrier movable from the run-way to the ballrprojecting means, coin-controlled means for simul taneously raising the gate and for actuating the means for simultaneously releasing all of said balls, a pair of latches for holding the gate in a raised posi ion, means actuated by the selective ball-releasing means cooperating with one of said latches, and means operated by the ballcarrier for releasing the other of said latches.

10. In a game, a ball-playing surface having ball-trapping means associated therewith, means for projecting balls over said surface toward said ball trapping means, means for simultaneously releasing all of the trapped balls, independent means for selectively releasing the desired trapped balls, at runway inclined toward one side of the casingfor receiving the released balls, a resilient detent normally preventing; movement of the ballsfrom off of the run way, a manually actue ated swinging ball-carrier movable to the runway for receiving the balls'therefrom, said resilient detent being in the path of the carrier whereby the same will be moved below the runway upon downwardmovement of the carrier, said carrier being-normally in alinement with the ball-projecting means for delivering balls thereto, a swinging gate for normally preventing movement of the balls from off of the run-way, coincontrolled means for simultaneously raising the gate and for actuating the means for simultaneously releasing the balls from the playing surface, a pair of latches for holding the gate in a raised position, means operated by the selective ballreleasing means for actuating one of the latches, and means operated by the ball-carrier upon movement thereof for releasing the other of said ball-trapping means asspciated therewith, means,

forprojecting balls over said, surface toward said trapping me ns m ara-s ts m n u y r leasing "all ,of the trapped balls, independent means for selectively releasing the desired trapped balls, a run-way inclined toward one ,side of the casing for receiving the released balls, a resilient detent normally preventing movement of the balls from off of the run-way, a manually actuated swinging ball-carrier movable to the run-way for receiving the balls therefrom, said resilient detent being in the path of the carrier whereby the same will be moved below the run-way upon down- 10 ward movement of the carrier, said carrier being normally in alignment with the ball-projecting meansfor delivering balls thereto, a swinging gate for normally preventing movement of the balls from off of the run-way, coin-controlled means for simultaneouslyraising the gate and for actuating the means forsimultaneously releasing the balls from the playing surface, a pair of latches for holding'the gate in a raised-position, meansoperated'by the selective ball-releas-f ing means for actuating one of the latches, means operated by the ball-carrier upon movement thereof for releasing the other of said latches, and means operated from the ball carrier for feeding the balls down the run-Way. 12. In a game, a casing, a playing board in said casing, a race-way surrounding and inclining toby the board extending toward the race-way and defining ball-receiving spaces therebetween, a i table disposed below the board projecting under said pins for supporting balls trapped between adjacent pairs of the pins, means rotatably and slidably supporting the table, means for rotating the table, a sliding gate carried by the table, means 1 for moving the gate inwardly of the periphery of the table for selectively releasing desired trapped balls, a run-way for receiving balls released from the table, a swinging gate normally preventing movement of the balls from off of the runaway, means for projecting balls over the run-way, a swinging carrier movable into alinement with the run-way for receiving balls therefrom and into alinement with the ball projecting means, coincontrolled means for simultaneously raisingthe swinging gate and for lowering the table for simultaneously releasing all of said trapped balls, a latch plate connected'with the swinging gate, a swinging latch lever engaging the plate, means for operating the swinging latch lever upon rota-' tion of the table, a second latch lever engaging the latch plate, a pivoted latch plate supporting the last-mentioned latch lever, a pivoted dog Q0111 nected to the latch plate, means limiting the swinging movement of the dog in one direction, and spring means resisting the movement of the dog in the other direction, and said dog being in the path of the ball carriers-whereby to bring about actuation of thelatch plate upon movement of the carrier in one direction. a

'13. In a game having playing cardsgame pieces for selecting playing hands from said cards, means. for playing the game pieces, player-controlled means for selectively discarding the gamepieces not desired in the playing hand, means forreplaying the discarded game pieces, whereby addinot desired in the counting pockets to permit the re-playing of said discarded game pieces, mechanical means preventing the re-playing of the game pieces after the discarded game pieces have been re-played, and means for releasing said mechanical means.

15, A game comprising a game board, game piece trapping means associated with the board, means for projecting the game pieces over the board for movement into the trapping means, means for selectively releasing game pieces not desired, independent means for releasing all of the game pieces, latch-controlled means for governing the movement of the game pieces to the projecting means, and means for releasing the latch-controlled means upon operation of the selective releasing means and the game piece projecting means.

16. A game comprising a game board, balltrapping means associated with said game board,

means for projecting balls over said game board whereby the same can fall by chance into the ball trapping means, and a releasable gate movable under any selected ball-trapping means for releasing an undesiredball therefrom to permit the re-playing of said ball.

ALFRED H. BEHRMAN.

FRANKLIN H." AVERS. 

